Flight Systems Program Manager

The Flight Systems Program Manager at Archer is responsible for overseeing the performance and delivery of essential components, including the Fly By Wire Flight Control System and Flight Deck Avionics. This involves close collaboration with various teams such as Systems Engineering, Software, and Quality. You'll create project schedules, manage risks, and communicate updates effectively with stakeholders, ensuring all milestones are reached on time.

Candidates for the Flight Systems Program Manager role at Archer should have a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Engineering Management, Business, or relevant industry experience. Ideally, you should have 5-10 years of experience in complex multi-system development, particularly focusing on controls and displays, alongside a solid grasp of program management best practices.

As a Flight Systems Program Manager, your role directly supports Archer's mission of advancing sustainable air mobility. By ensuring the smooth development and delivery of flight systems, you help pave the way for our all-electric aircraft to function efficiently and effectively, ultimately contributing to a greener future.

In the Flight Systems Program Manager role at Archer, familiarity with tools such as Smartsheets and Atlassian Jira is essential for task management and effective collaboration. You will also utilize Microsoft Project or similar scheduling software to develop timelines and track progress against the project management plan.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills are vital for the Flight Systems Program Manager at Archer. You will be required to build relationships across diverse teams, manage stakeholder communications, and drive collaborative problem-solving efforts. Attention to detail and organizational skills will also play a key role in your success in this dynamic environment.

When answering this question, focus on specific projects where you've worked with flight control systems. Highlight any particular challenges you faced, the solutions you implemented, and the outcomes of those projects to demonstrate your expertise and ability to handle complex technical issues.

It's important to explain your risk management process. Detail steps you take to identify risks early, how you assess their impact, and the methods you use to develop effective response plans. Mention any tools or methodologies you utilize, and provide examples of successful risk management from previous experiences.

An effective answer would include your approach to communication, such as regular status reports, meetings, and the tools used for tracking progress like Jira or Smartsheets. Provide an example of how you’ve kept stakeholders engaged and informed in past projects.

Discuss your organizational skills and prioritization strategies. You might want to share an experience where you successfully met a deadline under pressure, detailing the steps you took to ensure project milestones were achieved without sacrificing quality.

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to articulate the conflict and how you addressed it. Highlight your solutions for facilitation, negotiation, or collaboration, and the importance of maintaining team harmony for successful project delivery.

Express your enthusiasm for collaboration and highlight its importance in delivering complex projects. You can refer to past experiences to underscore how working in cross-functional teams led to better outcomes, showcasing your ability to value diverse perspectives.

Mention specific methodologies, like Agile or Waterfall, that you’ve applied in your past roles. Share scenarios where you leveraged these methodologies effectively, emphasizing their relevance to both flight systems projects and overall program success.

Discuss the tools you are familiar with, such as Microsoft Project, Smartsheets, or Jira. Explain why you prefer these tools, focusing on their advantages and how they improve project management efficiency and communication with teams.

In your response, include both quantitative and qualitative metrics for success, such as meeting deadlines, budget adherence, and stakeholder satisfaction. You might also want to touch on the broader impact of your projects on the company’s mission and objectives.

Provide insights into any direct experiences you’ve had with FAA regulations, including familiarity with ARP4754A or DO-178C. Discuss how these experiences shaped your program management approaches and ensured compliance within your projects.